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Wakefern expands shelf camera pilot to 50 stores

Computer vision system enables auto-detection of out-of-stocks

Russell Redman

September 25, 2019

2 Min Read
ShopRite storefront_Lake Ronkonkoma NY.JPG
ShopRite/Wakefern Food Corp.

Wakefern Food Corp. plans a 50-store test of a computer vision system that automatically identifies when product stock runs outs on shelves.

San Francisco-based retail automation specialist Focal Systems said Wednesday that its platform previously was being piloted at four Wakefern supermarkets. The Keasbey, N.J.-based grocery retail cooperative, whose independent supermarkets operate mainly under the ShopRite banner, has been testing Focal’s technology for more than a year.

Plans call for the expanded pilot to get under way this fall. Focal’s shelf camera-based solution captures images of store shelves to determine which items are out of stock. Data is generated hourly.

“Focal Systems’ out-of-stock detection through computer vision and artificial intelligence has enabled us to automatically identify shelf gaps,” Wakefern Chief Information Officer Cheryl Williams said in a statement. “This early success has encouraged our members to opt into a 50-store pilot expansion this autumn,” she added.

Focal Systems shelf camera.jpg

Once out-of-stocks are flagged, the Focal platform’s Stocker Action Tools sort them by lost sales per hour (LSH) and frustrated shoppers per hour (FSH). The company said this information helps store associates prioritize out-of-stocks as they occur and recoup the most lost sales as possible per labor hour to make the most customers happy. In addition, the system provides an “out-of-stock hours” metric that enables the retailer to rack on-shelf availability of products from store to store.

Related:Wakefern opens robotics-driven warehouse for online grocery

“Each detection is sent directly to Wakefern’s proprietary mobile application, which prioritizes out-of-stocks by department, aisle and in-stock availability,” according to Williams. “Our stores have seen time savings and operational improvements by incorporating the new information into their daily tasks.”

Focal noted that its platform allows store associates to spend more time serving customers because it eliminates the need to manually scan for out-of-stock items. On its website, the company — whose technology is being used by more than 10 top-tier retailers on three continents — reported that its computer vision system reduce out-of-stock hours by over 30%, resulting in an 8% gain in sales and satisfied customers.

“Customer expectations are high, and retailers want to deliver on those expectations,” stated Focal CEO Francois Chaubard. “Focal Systems provides the real-time data retailers need to run their stores efficiently. The system delivers insight into what’s happening throughout the store and allows for better decision making by delivering alerts on out-of-stocks to store associates, merchandising teams and supply chain systems. We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Wakefern and continue driving value for them and their customers.”

Related:ShopRite’s latest concepts shine in new store

Overall, Wakefern’s retailer-owned grocery cooperative has 50 members who own and operate 353 supermarkets under the ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Price Rite Marketplace and Dearborn Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Virginia.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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